Bristol, Tennessee
Bristol is a city in Sullivan County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 27,147 at the 2020 census. It is the twin city of Bristol, Virginia, which lies directly across the state line between Tennessee and Virginia. The boundary between the two cities is also the state line, which runs along State Street in their common downtown district. It is a principal city in the Kingsport–Bristol metropolitan area, which had a population of 307,614 in 2020. The metro area is a component of the larger Tri-Cities region of Tennessee and Virginia, with a population of 508,260 in 2020.
Bristol | |
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State Street in downtown Bristol, Tennessee (left) and Bristol, Virginia (right) | |
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Flag Seal Logo | |
| Nickname: The Birthplace of Country Music | |
| Motto: A Good Place To Live | |
Location of Bristol in Sullivan County, Tennessee. | |
| Coordinates: 36°35′N 82°11′W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Tennessee |
| County | Sullivan |
| Incorporated | 1856 |
| Named for | Bristol, England |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Vince Turner |
| • Vice Mayor | Mark Hutton |
| • City Manager | Kelli Bourgeois |
| Area | |
| • Total | 32.83 sq mi (85.03 km2) |
| • Land | 32.68 sq mi (84.63 km2) |
| • Water | 0.15 sq mi (0.40 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,676 ft (511 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 27,147 |
| • Density | 830.79/sq mi (320.77/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 37617, 37620, 37621 & 37625 |
| Area code | 423 |
| FIPS code | 47-08540 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1327702 |
| Website | www |
Bristol is known for being the site of some of the earliest commercial recordings of country music, showcasing Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family, and later a favorite venue of mountain musician Uncle Charlie Osborne. The U.S. Congress recognized Bristol as the "Birthplace of Country Music" in 1998, and the Birthplace of Country Music Museum is located in Bristol. It also is the birthplace of Tennessee Ernie Ford.
Bristol is the site of Bristol Motor Speedway, a NASCAR short track. The world's fifth-largest coal producer, Contura Energy, is based in Bristol.